Role of lactic acid bacteria in fermented vegetables

The consumption of fermented vegetables is widespread throughout the world and represents an important component of the human diet with considerable contribution to the food supply for a world population in continuous growth. Many of the fermented vegetables share a general process which requires salting and acidification steps. Among the microorganisms responsible for fermentation, lactic acid bacteria are the most relevant with important organoleptic, quality and safety benefits. This review deals with the microbial ecology of fermented vegetables focusing on the biodiversity of lactic acid bacteria, the most important molecular techniques used for their identification and genotyping, their importance for the formation of biofilms as well as their use as starter cultures for obtaining high-quality and safe vegetable products.